Bullion & Gold Bars
Purity, composition and complementary physical verification for suitable solid bullion.
Gold Testing
Independent Gold Testing Services
Bilex tests gold and precious-metal samples for buyers, sellers, miners, exporters, traders and refineries that need measured information before making a commercial decision.
The testing route depends on the material, the sample available and what the result needs to establish.
Materials We Test
Doré
Analysis of gold, silver and other relevant elements in suitable doré material.
Ore & Concentrates
Testing based on representative preparation and analysis of gold-bearing geological material.
Jewellery & Other Metallic Samples
Composition and purity assessment using methods appropriate to the item and testing objective.
Choose the Right Testing Method
Gold testing is not one universal procedure. Bilex reviews the material and the testing objective before confirming the method or combination of methods.
Gold Purity Testing
Purity and composition testing for suitable bullion, doré, jewellery and other metallic samples.
Fire Assay
Representative precious-metal determination from a prepared sample.
XRF Analysis
Rapid elemental analysis of suitable metallic samples without consuming the item.
Advanced Analysis
ICP-OES, AAS, ICP-MS and other instrumental methods for suitable analytical requirements.
Bullion Verification
Ultrasonic, density and complementary checks for suitable solid bullion.
Who Uses Gold Testing
Buyers & Sellers
Testing can provide independent evidence of composition or purity before parties agree commercial terms.
Miners & Mining Companies
Ore and concentrate testing can support material assessment when the submitted sample represents the defined lot.
Exporters & Traders
Laboratory results can form part of a wider transaction or shipment file where the parties require them.
Refineries
Testing can provide documented information about submitted material before or alongside a refinery's own intake process.
From Sample to Report
Discuss
Tell us the material and what you need the result to establish.
Receive
The material or submitted sample is identified and recorded.
Test
The agreed preparation and testing method are carried out.
Report
You receive a result linked to the material, sample and method used.
Using Test Results in a Gold Transaction
A test result applies to the material or sample examined. For larger lots, ore and concentrates, representative sampling and preparation are especially important if the result will inform a wider commercial decision.
International buyers and sellers can arrange testing before purchase, export or refinery intake. Bilex can discuss sample submission, appointment requirements and the report needed for the agreed scope. Testing does not replace ownership, licensing, payment, customs or wider due-diligence checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Bilex test gold doré?
Yes. The appropriate method is selected according to the material, sampling requirements and information needed.
Can gold bars be tested without damaging them?
Suitable bullion can be examined using non-destructive methods including XRF, ultrasonic testing and density testing.
Is Fire Assay destructive?
Yes. Fire Assay uses a representative prepared sample that is consumed during analysis.
Do I need to choose the testing method before booking?
No. Tell us what material you have and what you need to establish, and Bilex will recommend an appropriate testing route.
IS XRF THE SAME AS FIRE ASSAY?
No. They are different methods with different strengths and limitations. The appropriate choice depends on the material and testing objective.
Book Gold Testing
Tell us the material and what you need the result to establish.
Overview
Gold does not arrive in one form
A bar of doré, a refined bullion bar and a bag of gold bearing ore may all contain gold, but they cannot be treated as the same analytical material. The way the material is sampled, prepared and tested changes with its physical form and with the question the client needs answered.
Bilex tests ore, concentrates, doré, bullion, nuggets, jewellery and other suitable precious metal materials. The laboratory method is selected after reviewing the sample and the intended use of the result.
Ore and concentrates
Ore and concentrate results depend heavily on representative sampling. The material may need to be dried, crushed, split, pulverised and homogenised before a test portion is taken. Fire Assay remains a central method for gold determination. Metallic Screen Fire Assay can be useful where coarse gold distribution creates strong variation between small test portions. PhotonAssay provides another option for suitable prepared geological samples where analysis of a larger mass is useful.
Doré
Doré is already metallic, but its composition can vary and the surface may not tell the full story of the bar. XRF can provide rapid elemental screening from prepared areas. Where a representative quantitative determination is required, a metallic sample can be taken for Fire Assay or another suitable laboratory method. The sampling plan matters because the assay result represents the sample removed from the bar.
Bullion and refined metal
Finished bullion may require more than one type of evidence. XRF provides surface composition from prepared test areas. Fire Assay can determine gold from a representative metallic sample when destructive sampling is authorised. Ultrasonic examination can assess internal continuity in suitable solid bars, while hydrostatic density testing provides supporting physical evidence based on mass and volume.
Gold and silver
Gold is often the primary reason for testing, but silver can also be important in doré, ore, concentrates and other precious metal materials. Bilex can determine or report silver where it forms part of the requested analytical scope. The method and reporting unit depend on the material and concentration range.
The result belongs to the tested sample
A laboratory can measure a sample with high precision and still give the wrong impression if that sample does not represent the material being valued. For larger lots and commercial transactions, the connection between the sample, the lot, the custody record and the final report should remain clear from the start.